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The following contains spoilers for Dragon Ball Super Chapter 84, by Akira Toriyama, Toyotarou, Caleb Cook and Brandon Bovia, available now in English through Viz Media.
Goku and Vegeta reached peak dynamic duo energy in Chapter 84 of the Dragon Ball Super manga as the battle against Gas continued. After listening to the audio from Bardock’s scouter from his fight with Gas in the past, Goku and Vegeta did find the help they needed to beat Gas, albeit in an unexpected manner. They’d hoped to find out exactly what Bardock did to defeat Gas, but instead all they got from the recording was his pride as a Saiyan to never give up. When hearing his father’s voice stirred memories and Saiyan Pride in Goku, the mighty Saiyans got themselves pumped for their rematch with the just-arrived strongest-in-the-universe, Gas.
The “Granolah” arc of the Super manga has corrected one of Dragon Ball’s longest-enduring flaws by having Vegeta finally cease riding Goku’s coattails and pursue his own path to power. As Goku trained to master Ultra Instinct with Whis, Vegeta began to study the ways of Destruction under Lord Beerus. Goku can now enter the “perfected” (but not really) Ultra Instinct state at will, while Vegeta has a new Destruction-based form of his own that he's dubbed Ultra Ego. Using their new forms, Goku and Vegeta have spent most of this arc taking turns receiving spankings from Granolah and Gas, but with Chapter 84 they have finally presented a united front.
For the first time in Dragon Ball, Goku has truly grasped the meaning of Saiyan Pride after hearing his father’s voice and unlocking memories of his infancy, in which he could see his parents’ faces and feel that they loved him. Vegeta was similarly moved by hearing Bardock’s plight, having finally remembered that his Saiyan Pride is not about bearing the sins of the entire race, but simply being proud to be a Saiyan. Once Goku and Vegeta were the closest they've ever been to being on the same wavelength, even Vegeta was enthusiastic to fight Gas together.
Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego could not be more different, but each is perfectly suited to the Saiyan who wields it. Goku’s Ultra Instinct is about a tranquil heart and avoiding damage, while Vegeta’s Ultra Ego uses chaotic energy to grow stronger by taking damage. Gas is already struggling against the cooperating Saiyans now that they are fighting together with their new forms.
Poor Gas has one opponent who is exceedingly difficult to damage, while damaging the other only increases their power. Even though Gas used Monaito’s Dragon Balls to wish himself the strongest in the universe, that doesn’t include any leaps in power that Goku and/or Vegeta may make in the time since the wish was made.
In a panel that’s just begging to be animated, Goku and Vegeta simultaneously powered up to Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego and attacked Gas in a surprisingly coordinated assault. Teamwork makes the dream work and while this fight has not (yet) turned Gas into an angry punching bag, that Goku and Vegeta haven’t already been beaten back into unconsciousness for, like, the third time in this arc is a good sign. Vegeta even warned Goku to clear the area before launching a Ki blast made of Destruction, which is more consideration than he usually shows his greatest rival and secret best friend.
Goku and Vegeta have fought together plenty of times in the past, but never as close to equals as they are now. It’s not the only their respective power that’s nearly equal, but their relationship is perhaps the least dysfunctional it's ever been. It’s no coincidence that Vegeta was happy to fight together right after Goku uttered the phrase “Saiyan Pride” while referring to himself for the first time.
As the battle with Gas continues, Goku and Vegeta might just be able to turn the tables on the strongest warrior in the universe – at least until someone else makes that same wish on Monaito’s Dragon Balls.